"I'm excited for him," Smith said. "I'm excited to see him back. I think his perspective on basketball has changed a little bit. He just wants to play. He's been there and done that, so he's just trying to revitalize his career for as long as he can."

Smith, who has mentored Arenas for more than a decade now, said he speaks with Arenas about twice a week.

Tourney focus It's safe to say that no Magic players will watch the Final Four more intently than Louisville alumnus Earl Clark and Kentucky alumnae DeAndre Liggins and Daniel Orton.

Their alma maters, already gargantuan rivals, will square off Saturday. The winner will earn a spot in the national championship game.

"Saturday can't come fast enough," Clark said. "It's funny because I never thought I'd be on a team with two guys who went to UK. But it's fun. It's bragging rights. Hopefully, we'll win so I'll give them a hard time."

Liggins said: "It's unbelievable that two rivals are going against other in the Final Four. I'm just happy Kentucky made it back."

Layups • Smith returned to the team after he missed several games to be with a younger brother who is battling cancer.

• Former Raptor Hedo Turkoglu was booed when his name was announced during pregame introductions. He was even booed as he prepared to make an inbounds pass early in the game.

• The Raptors' DeMar DeRozan sat out his second consecutive game because of a sore left ankle.

• Former Toronto Blue Jays slugger Joe Carter attended the game and received a standing ovation with 2:07 remaining in the first quarter.

• The Magic entered Monday ranked 11th in the NBA in points allowed per possession and 17th in points scored per possession, according to the league's official statistics database.

• The team has declined this season relative to the rest of the league in those statistical categories. Last season, the Magic finished ranked third overall in points allowed per possession and 10th in points scored per possession.

• The Magic entered Monday with a 15-15 all-time record in regular-season games played in Toronto against the Raptors.

• Howard introduced each of his teammates to an audience during the recent Magic Youth Foundation Black Tie and Tennies Gala. Here's how he described Liggins: "This guy is from the streets of Chicago. He's one of the toughest guys I've ever seen in life. One day at breakfast, he had a BOWL OF NAILS! . . . He's going to be one of the best Magic players ever."

• Of Quentin Richardson, Howard quipped: "This guy has one of the shiniest bald heads ever. If you thought Michael Jordan's head was shiny during games, or Bo Outlaw, they've got nothing on this guy." Howard then proceeded to nickname Richardson "Mr. Clean."